NOPD says murder suspects kept violent company

NOPD says murder suspects kept violent company

New Orleans police announced the arrest of 23-year old Kevin Thomas and 20-year-old Isaac Pierre in connection with the murder of a man and his seven-month-old son last month.

Police also talked about a violent circle of violence allegedly involving the suspects, their adult victim, and ongoing west bank gang activity.

Thomas and Pierre are accused of opening fire on 25-year-old Deshawn Butler and his son as they rode in the back seat of a car near the Crescent City Connection bridge. Both were killed.

Police believe the two suspects used a stolen car to commit the attack, and detectives released video of a car that was dumped and torched on Patterson Street shortly after the murders.

Thomas and Pierre were arrested during a traffic stop Thursday night. Police say they also found guns in the car and in the suspect’s house on Lafaye Street.

Police also say they were at the same house on Lafaye a couple of weeks ago for a double murder. In that case, one of the people killed was the brother of one of the suspects in the Algiers shooting, Isaac Pierre.

Superintendent Ronal Serpas also says the adult victim in the double murder, Butler, knew his attackers.

“There is no doubt in our minds that Butler was involved in gang activity on the west bank. There is no doubt in our minds that he knew his assailants. There is no doubt in our minds that he may be responsible for serious injuries to other persons in the community,” Serpas told reporters Friday afternoon.